Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), has appointed AJ Jones, II as executive vice president, chief strategic and corporate communications officer responsible for developing, executing and amplifying MSE’s brand and corporate narrative.
Jones will lead ownership, financial, investor, and community-based communications; oversee the company’s broader investor relations and stakeholder engagement strategies; and serving as a member of MSE’s leadership team, report to Ted Leonsis, founder, chairman, managing partner, and chief executive officer of MSE.
“AJ is a renowned communications leader whose expertise spans Fortune 500 companies, national non-profits, government organizations, and multilateral agencies,” said Leonsis. “As MSE continues to grow and evolve, AJ’s expansive senior executive experience across business sectors, industries, philanthropy, investor, and international relations will be invaluable. His deep knowledge of customer service and entertainment will also help us enhance and showcase the unforgettable moments we strive to create for fans of our teams.”
Jones joins MSE from Starbucks where he served in multiple leadership roles, including executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer and executive vice president and chief communications and public affairs officer. In those roles, Jones led the company’s global communications, partner (employee) communications and social media platforms, corporate and investor communications, brand-product communications and experiences, Starbucks Entertainment, global government affairs, social impact, and Starbucks Foundation teams worldwide. He also played a pivotal role in Starbucks’ global growth fostering public-private partnerships to spearhead economic development. Jones also served as lead executive for the company’s Board of Directors Environmental, Partner and Community Impact Committee, was an executive sponsor of the Armed Forces Partner Network and was a governing member of the Global Brand Council.
“Monumental is one of the most valuable and forward-thinking sports and media-entertainment organizations in the world,” said Jones. “Ted and Zach Leonsis have built a company that is unrivaled in its ability to deliver best-in-class service to fans. This has been driven by dynamic management, strong cultural values, and an unwavering commitment to the community. As someone who has lived and thrived in the DC metropolitan area and has insatiable appetite for sports and media-entertainment, I’m thrilled to contribute to this exceptional organization.”
“The future of major league sports and media is increasingly global, with success driven by delivering highly personalized, premium services for consumers,” said Zach Leonsis, president of Media and New Enterprises for MSE. “AJ’s track record of working in senior communications roles with international brands that prioritize outstanding customer engagement makes him a perfect fit to contribute to our next phase of growth.”
Jones has worked internationally in Hong Kong, South Africa, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, and Switzerland. Before Starbucks, Jones held senior executive roles in Fortune 500 companies, top-ranked agencies, and philanthropic and governmental intuitions. He is actively involved in the Washington Economic Club, Executive Leadership Council, World Fifty Group, and is an executive member of the Forbes Communications Council and Fast Company Executive Board member.
Images courtesy Monumental Sports & Entertainment
